MSNBC host Joe Scarborough has issued a stark warning to the media about the dangers of being manipulated by intelligence community leaks regarding the recent U.S. airstrikes on Iran’s nuclear facilities. The controversy erupted after CNN aired a classified Defense Intelligence Agency (DIA) assessment claiming President Trump’s highly touted strikes against Iran merely set back its nuclear program by months rather than the “decades” the administration has claimed. Was this a coordinated political attack on Trump to undermine the successful military operation?
Media Warfare: Classified Intelligence Leaked to CNN
A major breach of national security protocols occurred when CNN disclosed a top-secret intelligence assessment regarding the effectiveness of U.S. airstrikes on Iran’s nuclear facilities. The classified Defense Intelligence Agency report, which contradicted President Trump’s claims of success, suggested that Iran’s nuclear program was “likely only set back months” rather than the “decades” touted by the administration.
The White House quickly responded with spokesperson Karoline Leavitt calling the assessment “flat-out wrong” and condemning the leak as coming from “an anonymous, low-level loser in the intelligence community.” Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth further undermined the leaked report by noting it was made with “low confidence” and revealed that an FBI investigation into the leak was already underway.
OMG
Sec. of Def Pete Hegseth just OBLITERATED the fake news on the Iran bomb report
“Why is there ‘low confidence’? Because all of the evidence of what was just bombed by twelve 30lb bombs, is BURIED UNDER A MOUNTAIN!..So if you want to make an ‘assessment of what happened at… pic.twitter.com/nGansdHxsg
— Libs of TikTok (@libsoftiktok) June 25, 2025
Operation Midnight Hammer: Success or Setback?
President Trump announced that U.S. forces had successfully bombed three Iranian nuclear sites at Fordow, Natanz, and Esfahan in an operation that military officials have code-named “Operation Midnight Hammer.” Trump compared the strikes to the U.S. bombings of Hiroshima and Nagasaki, claiming they resulted in the “virtual obliteration” of Iran’s nuclear capabilities.
Satellite imagery released by the administration showed dramatic “before and after” pictures of the strikes, particularly highlighting damage to the Fordow facility, which is built deep underground. However, mainstream media outlets including CNN, AP, and the New York Times have published leaked assessments suggesting that Iran’s nuclear sites remained largely intact and operational despite the bombing campaign.
The White House statement emphasized that “everyone knows what happens when you drop fourteen 30,000-pound bombs perfectly on their targets: total obliteration.” This direct contradiction between administration claims and leaked intelligence has created significant confusion about the actual impact of the military operation.
Iran and Israel agree — the precision strikes obliterated the Iranian regime’s nuclear facilities pic.twitter.com/97cJvVn6bf
— Rapid Response 47 (@RapidResponse47) June 25, 2025
Media Ethics and Intelligence Community Manipulation
MSNBC’s Joe Scarborough issued a cautionary message to his media colleagues about potentially being used as pawns by factions within the intelligence community. “We have to be cautious about being played by people inside the intel community who want to get their message out,” Scarborough warned on “Morning Joe,” referencing past instances where intelligence leaks published by major newspapers later proved to be exaggerated or incorrect.
Scarborough specifically mentioned questionable intelligence leaks during previous conflicts in Iraq and Afghanistan, as well as during Trump’s first term, when the New York Times published an intelligence claim that “Vladimir Putin was paying for hits against US troops in Afghanistan.” The former Republican congressman advised patience and skepticism, suggesting media outlets should wait for more comprehensive information before concluding the effectiveness of the Iran strikes.
This incident highlights the ongoing tension between media organizations’ desire to report breaking news and their responsibility to national security, particularly when dealing with highly classified intelligence. The leak raises serious questions about whether certain elements within government agencies are attempting to undermine the administration by selectively releasing information that contradicts official White House statements about a major military operation.
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Author: Editorial Team
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